Spring scale



H. 0. HEM.

SPRING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED APII.2. IQII.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

2 SHEETS*SHEET I.

H. 0. HEM.

SPRING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2, 1911.

1,404,765. l Patented Jan. 3l, 1922.

2 SHhETS-SHEET 2.

Fig/.2.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KALVOR O. HEM, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TOLEDO SCALE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY'.

SPRING SCALE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patentedaan. 31, 1922.

Application led April 2, 1917. Serial No. 159,168.

To ail whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HALvoR O. HEM, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Tothereof, thereby changing the relation of the I two arms of the lever and accordingly varying the pull transmitted to the load-resisting springs. This shifting of the thermostat and controlling mechanism upon the beam', however, effects a serious disadvantage in that the initial weight, or rather distribution of weight of thebeam, is likewise changed and causes a differentinitial pull upon the load-resisting springs for each change in temperature.- This is particularly true inA scales having the scale beam approximately vcountierbalanced by the provision of a counterpoise at. one side ofthe fulcrum pivots to offset the weight ofy the load-receiving platter and its supporting spider; such, for example, as is shown in the accompanyingdrawings. Such scales Ausually have the counterpoise of such weight and so spaced from the fulcrum pivots that the eii'ective weight of all material on one side of thev fulcrum ivots will not entirely counterbalance the e ective weight of the platter, platter support's, adjusting devices, and the material of tlhe lever itsellf on the other vside of the fulcrum pivots, the remainder of this weight being taken up by the 1oad-resisting springs, thus putting the load-resisting springs under an initlal tension prior to the placing of any loa-d to be weighed upon the platter.

. In correcting for the changes in -the load- 1 this initia pull is regarded as a constant;

resisting s rmgs due to temperature changes,

but when thethermostat and controllingde-1 vices move upon the beam as the temperature changes, the distribution ofV weight uponv the beam changes 'relativel to thefulcrumv pivots, and the initial vwelglit to'be taken -a thermostatic correcting up by the cordingly.

The primary object of my invention is to improve spring scales b-y providing means ifor counterbalancing the movement of the thermostat on the'beam, and thus correcting for the error now existing because of the variable initial pull.

Other object-s and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawlngs wherein are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein similar loadresisting springs varies acreference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings F ig. 1 is a side elevation ofv a scale equipped with my invention, parts being broken away to .show the interior construction; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the main lever .or scale beam thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the lower portion of the scale, the scale beam being shown in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective-view of the thermostat; Fig. 5 1s a` detail sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3; andv Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the scale beam provided with another 'Iform of my invention.

' In the drawings, the base 5 supports a suitable column 6 upon the upper end of thermostatically controlled' "il which is mounted a cylindrical housing 7 eni closing the load-resisting springs 8 and the indicating mechanism of the scale, including a cylindricalchart upon which is marked the weight and value graduations in the usual manner of cylinder computing scales. This type of scale has been shown for purposes of illustration inasmuch as it embodies the essential elements of a sprin `scale requiring evice to enable it to approximate accuracy. However, other forms of scales could -be as readily employed, and it is to be understood that my invention ris adaptable for use in any form of spring scale.'- l A main lever or scale beam 9 is fulorumed upon standards l0 carrled by the base 5, and

supports the platter 11 vby means of a spider. 'l2jxesting uponf'upturned pivots 13 upon the scale beam, suitable means, as the check riser 14,' being employed to maintain the platter in substantially .level position. As shown,

one end of the beam extends within the column 6 and connects with the lower end of the lsteelyard rod 15, the upper end of which engages'a cross-bar 16, adapted to connect with thel load-resisting springs, preferably arrangedadjacent the opposite sides of the c lindrical housing, and the rack bar t rough which the indicating chart is revolved'. As can be seen most clearly in Figs.` 2 and 3, the connection with the steelyard rod` is made through a pivot 17 mounted in a slidable carrier block 18 arranged upon the scale beam 9, suitable guiding means, such as the grooves 18a in the block and the rails 19 upon the beam, being provided. Ar-

. ranged between the carrier block 18 and the thermostat 21 is an adjustable connecting rod 20, which, for purposes of guidance and strength, is preferably divided 1nto two portions adjacent the thermostat, suitable means being provided in the scale beam to guide said portions in their movements.

In operation, changes, the load-resisting springs and the thermostat 2l will expand and contract, the expansion or'contraction of the thermostat slidably moving the carrier block 18 through the medium of the connecting rod 20, thereby changing the relative distances between, the

pivots on the main lever to compensate for the changes in the load-resisting springs. However, the shifting of the thermostat, connecting rod and carrier block upon the scalebeam will materially change the distribution of wei htof the scale beam relatively to the f u crum pivots, and as hereinbefore explained will change the initial pull upon the load-resisting springs. To overcome this defect, I provide means, such as the weight 22, upon the scale beam arranged to move in the. opposite direction to that of the thermostat, carrier block and connecting rod, the arrangement being'such that the counter movement of the weight 22 will be sufficient to offset the shifting of mass vof the thermostat and associated mechanism.

- Thus, the weight 22 shown in Fig. 2 is arranged on one arm of the lever 23 and the other arm is pivotally connected with the thermosat 21, the relation ofthe two arms of the lever' 23 being such that the weight 22 multiplied by the distancemf its movement will be sufficient to compensate for the shifting of mass of the thermostat and carrier block actuating means multiplied' by the distance of its movement.

The initial. pull of the scale beam 9 will thereby remain'constant despite the shifting of the thermostat and connected. means and the movement of the pivot 17 arranged to compensate only for the changes in the loadvcorrecting device wherein the resisting springs themselves.

In Fig. 6 is shown another form of the separate weight may be ellmlnated, and the connectwhen the temperature ing rod carrier block and intermediate mechanism may be shifted in opposition to the direction of movement of the thermostat itself so that a balance may be maintained."

Thus, the thermostat 21 is arranged so that its movement will not entirely be longitudinally of the scale beam but is divided into a longitudinal and lateral movement, of which and may be compensated for by the shifting v of the weight of the connectin the arm 25 forming part of he bell-crank connection between the thermostat'and connecting rod. vThe bell-crank lever 25 is rod 20a and pivoted upon an arm 26 carried upon the scale beam, and one arm arranged with an elongated slot 27 in which is secured the bolt 28 through which connection is made with the rod 29 engaging the thermostat, thereby permitting adjustment to regulate Athe move- ,ments of the thermostat .iii-accordance with the movementsof the connecting rod and associated devices. v

. While it will be apparent that the illusytrated embodiments of my invention `herein disclosed are well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages prlmarily stated, itis to'be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a spring scale having'a lever, a ther-- mostat carried by the lever, and lweighted counterbalance means adapted tobe moved in opposite direction to the expansive and contractive movements of the thermostat a sulcient distance to compensate for the change of the center of gravity of the lever due to the movements .ofthe thermostat.

2. In a spring scale having a lever, a thermostat carried by the lever, and weighted counterbalance lmeans connected with the thermostat and adapted to be moved in opposite directionjto the expansive and contractive movements of the thermostat a sufficient distance to compensate for thechange' of the ,center of gravity of the lever due to the movements of the thermostat. 3. In a sprln'g scale, a lever having pivots, one of which is movable,.a thermostat ca r- 'ried by the lever, and means actuated by the thermostat whereby 'the pivot'is moved in accordance with variationsA in temperature, said means and thermostat being arranged to conjointly operate to maintain constant the effective weight 4of the lever.V 4. In a spring scale, a `leverfhaving pivots,

one of which is., movable, a' thermostat carried byjthele'ver, actuating means moved byl the thermostat whereby the pivot is moved 6. In a spring scale, load-resisting springs., i

a lever having a pivot, connections between the pivot and springs, a thermostat carried by the lever, connections intermediate the thermostat and pivot whereby the pivot is moved longitudinally of the lever .in accordance with 'varia-tions in temperature, and counterbalance means mounted upon thelever and arranged to be moved to correct for the shifting of weight of the thermostat and pivot actuating means.

7. In a spring scale, load-resisting springs, a lever having a pivot, connections between the pivot and. springs, a thermostat carried by the lever, connections intermediate the thermostat and pivot whereby the pivot is moved, and a counterbalance weight mounted upon the lever and adapted to be moved to correct for the shifting of weight of the thermostat and pivot actuating means.

8. In a spring scale, load-resisting springs, a lever having a pivot, connections between the pivot and springs, a thermostat carried by the lever, connections intermediate the thermostat and pivot whereby the pivot.l

is moved, a counterbalance weight mounted upon the lever and adapted to lbe moved to correct for the shifting of weight of the thermostat and pivot actuatin means, -a lever upon which said weight 1s mounted, and means for pivotally connectingthe leverv with the thermostat. c

9. In a spring scale, a scale beam, a thermostat carried thereby, and counterbalance means connected with the thermostat and arranged to compensate for the movements of the mass of the thermostat vand vary the initial pull on the springs in conformity with changes in temperature whereby the scale will be maintained in balance at the zero indication.

10. In a spring scale, a scale beam, a thermostat carried thereby, and a counterbalance means arranged to be moved by the thermostat to vary the initial pull of the scale beam in conformity with' changes in temperature whereby the scale will be maintained in balance at the zero indication.

11. In a spring scale, in combination, a le- 'ver, a thermostat, means controlled by said thermostat for changing the relative lengths of the lever arms and arranged to position the center of mass of said lever to maintain` the scale in balance at its zero position as the lengths of said lever arms are changed.

12. In al scale having a lever, means for rshifting a pivot of' said lever to change the relative lengths of the lever arms, and means controlled by said pivotshifting means for positioning the center .mass of saidlever to maintain the scale in balance. y

13. In a scale having a lever, a thermostat 'for shifting a pivot of said lever to change the relative lengths of the lever arms, and means controlled by said thermostat for positioning the center of mass of said lever to maintain the scale 'in balance.

14. In a weighing scale having a lever, the combination of a thermostat, means operated by said thermostat for changing the relative lengths of the lever arms as the temperature changes, and means `whereby the center of mass of the lever is positioned by the operation of said thermostat to maintain the scale in balance. I

15. In a spring scale, in combination, a spring, a lever so connected to said spring as to place it in slight tension when the scale is in zero position, a thermostat, means operated by said thermostat to change the relative-lengths of the arms of said lever, and

means controlled by said thermostat to maintain the initial tension on said spring substantially constant throughout the range of change in the relative lengths of the lever arms.

16. In a scale, in combination, a lever, thermostatic means for changing the relative lengths of the lever arms and simultaneously positioning the center of mass of the lever so as to maintain the scale in balance.

HALVOR o. HEM.

lVitnesses:

C. H. MILLER, Jr,` R. I-IEGKLER. 

